Roundguard | Xbox One Review

Have you ever stumbled across a game you had never heard of? One that turns out to be an experience you never knew you wanted? That’s what happened to me when I fired up Roundguard. I’ve always been a massive fan of Peggle, and Wonderbelly Games took the formula to places I never considered. And this new formula works in all the best ways. This might already be the hidden gem of the year for me, and I can’t wait to play more.

How Peggle-y Is It?

Let there be know mistake: this is Peggle, but with a purpose. The mechanics work almost identical to PopCap Studios‘ classic, but include a larger level of depth. Rounguard is a roguelike. Instead of shooting for high scores, you’re making your way through as many levels as possible before perishing. Along the way, you’ll acquire new stat bonuses to make your next run easier. If that alone doesn’t sell you on the game, let me continue.

There are no pegs to destroy in Roundguard. The screen is instead filled with enemies, pots filled with gold, treasure chests containing loot, and potions to replenish your health and mana. You’re no longer hampered by a limited number of shots; instead, your character has a set amount of hit points. If you’re attacked by an enemy, you lose HP. Your health is also diminished if you miss the floating platform that moves back and forth at the bottom of the screen. Once you clear the enemies from the screen, you move on to the next randomly-generated level.

There’s a lot more going on after you fire a shot, however. Each class (yes, there are three classes to choose from) has its own unique magic spells that you can use as your ball makes its way down. This gives you a bit more control on the direction of your shot to attack enemies and gather loot. It requires a great deal more dexterity than Peggle, which mostly has you watching the action unfold after shooting.

A Warrior, a Rogue, and a Wizard Walk Into a Bar…

The aforementioned classes offer an incredible amount of depth to the gameplay. The warrior starts with a better amount of health and attack power, but limited mana. The wizard is just the opposite; she has more powerful magic abilities, but lower stamina. The rogue is a bit more well-rounded and also has the ability to jettison in any direction on the screen (provided she has enough mana). The inclusion of multiple options offers a level of variety far more intricate than I expected, making each run feel positively unique.

On top of the classes, there’s a loot system that also adds a ton of variety to Roundguard. Along the way, you’ll have a chance to acquire new weapons, armor, and magic abilities, which gives the game a robust RPG feel to it. Each piece of equipment has its own level of stats. This scratches the roguelike itch perfectly, and compliments the satisfying Peggle gameplay to near perfection.

The Road Less Traveled

You’ll even have some control over how to progress through each dungeon. Once you clear a board, multiple portals open at the bottom of the screen. Each one takes you down a different path, much like in games like Slay the Spire. One path might lead you to a treasure room, another might lead you to a tough boss. The risk vs. reward element because of this makes for delicious decision-making. Do you shoot for an on-screen treasure and take a chance of draining down to a harder path on the map? Or do you play it safe and take the easier route? It’s designed exquisitely.

And don’t forget about collecting gold. In most roguelikes, you collect gold to purchase items after you die to make your next run easier. Roundguard take a different approach here. Certain rooms (including one that opens after you inevitably perish) offer a sort of “wheel of chance”. The more gold you’ve acquired opens up more rare items and abilities on the wheel. These are permanent upgrades for future runs, whereas normal loot is taken away at the beginning of a new game. It’s a clever twist on the genre that adds to the risk/reward formula on each board.

Roundguard Final Verdict

I’ve struggled to find any complaints with Roundguard; the only knock I can give is that the music gets annoying early on. I might have appreciated a more calming ambience to the quirky tone present here, but it detracts nothing from the experience.

I can’t stress this point enough: if you’re a fan of Peggle at all, this is an absolute must play. It’s quite literally the best game I’ve played this year that no one is talking about. It offers the satisfying gameplay that we know and love while scratching a new itch I didn’t realize I had. Do yourself a favor and do not miss this gem of a title. It’s more than worth your hard-earned gold.

To hear me gush even more about Roundguard, be sure to check out Episode 285 at the 1:25:10 time stamp.

This review is based on an Xbox One copy of Roundguard provided by The Quantum Astrophysicists Guild for review purposes. It’s also available on PS4 and Switch with a PC version releasing on March 13th, 2020.